August 01, 2008

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats adjourned the House, turned off the lights and killed the microphones, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.

Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders opposed the motion to adjourn the House, arguing that Pelosi's refusal to schedule a vote allowing offshore drilling is hurting the American economy. They have refused to leave the floor after the adjournment motion passed at 11:23 a.m., and they are busy bashing Pelosi and her fellow Democrats for leaving town for the August recess.

At one point, the lights went off in the House and the microphones were turned off in the chamber, meaning Republicans were talking in the dark. But as Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz..) was speaking, the lights went back on and the microphones were turned on shortly afterward.

But C-SPAN, which has no control over the cameras in the chamber, has stopped broadcasting the House floor, meaning no one was witnessing this except the assembled Republicans, their aides, and one Democrat, Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio), who has now left.

Only about a half-dozen Republicans were on the floor when this began, but the crowd has grown to about 20, according to Patrick O'Connor.

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"This is the people's House," said Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.). "This is not Pelosi's politiburo."

Democratic aides were furious at the GOP stunt, and reporters were kicked out of the Speaker's Lobby, the space next to the House floor where they normally interview lawmakers.

"You're not covering this, are you?" complained one senior Democratic aide. Another called the Republicans "morons" for staying on the floor.

Update: The Capitol Police are now trying to kick reporters out of the press gallery above the floor, meaning we can't watch the Republicans anymore. But Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) is now in the gallery talking to reporters, so the cops have held off for a minute. Clearly, Democrats don't want Republicans getting any press for this episode. GOP leaders are trying to find other Republicans to rotate in for Blunt so reporters aren't kicked out.

Update 2: This message was sent out by Blunt's office:

"Although this Democrat majority just adjourned for the Democrat 5-week vacation, House Republicans are continuing to fight on the House floor. Although the lights, mics and C-SPAN cameras have been turned off, House Republicans are on the floor speaking to the taxpayers in the gallery who, not surprisingly, agree with Republican energy proposals.

"All Republicans who are in town are encouraged to come to the House floor."

Update 4: Republican leaders just sent out a notice looking for a bullhorn, and leadership aides are trying to corral all the members who are still in town to come speak on the floor and sustain this one-sided debate.

Also, Republicans can thank Shadegg for turning on the microphones the first time. Apparently, the fiesty Arizona conservative started typing random codes into the chamber's public address system and accidentally typed the correct code, allowing Republicans brief access to the microphone before it was turned off again.

"I love this," Shadegg told reporters up in the press gallery afterward. "Congress can be so boring. ... This is a kick."

Update 5: The scene on the floor is kind of crazy. Normally, members are not allowed to speak directly to the visitor galleries, and visitors are prohibited from cheering. But in this case, the members are walking up and down on the floor during their speeches, standing on chairs. The visitors are cheering loudly. Some members even brought in visitors, who are now sitting on the House floor in the seats normally filled by lawmakers, cheering and clapping. Very funny.

Democrats faced a choice here: Should they leave the cameras on and let Republicans rip Pelosi & Co. on C-SPAN, or should they leave the cameras off and let the Republicans have their "tantrum," as one Democratic aide characterized it, with the cameras off? So the cameras are off, but Republicans, and the crowd, are clearly enjoying the scene.

Update 6: Republicans are literally hugging each other on the House floor. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-Ill.), not normally known as a distinguished orator, just gave a rousing speech, accusing Democrats of stifling dissent. He referenced President John Quincy Adams, who returned as a House member after being defeated in his presidential reelection bid. Waving his arms and yelling, Manzullo brought the crowd (including a lot of staffers shipped in by GOP leaders to fill up the place), and he left the floor to hugs from his colleagues. You don't see that up here every day.

Update 7: Rep Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) just pretended to be a Democrat. He stood on the other side of the chamber and listed all of the GOP bills that the Dems killed.

He then said, "I am a Democrat, and here is my energy plan" and he held up a picture of an old VW Bug with a sail attached to it. He paraded around the House floor with the sign while the crowd cheered.

Update 8: It's over.

Right at the stroke of five Georgia Rep. Tom Price announced that House Republicans were ending their impromptu protest on the floor of the chamber, ending a five-plus hour rebellion with a round of "God Bless America."

The assembled tourists, aides and members in the chamber gave Price and his compatriots a standing ovation. They left the chamber to shouts of "USA! USA! USA!"

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Pelosi turns off the microphones but wants to save the world, the New York times rejects McCain's response to Obama's Op-Ed piece, Obama, aka "Citizen of the World" gave 200,000 germans beer, brauts, and rock & roll (the modern equivalent to Bread & Circus?)so he could get a photo-op but the Republicans are Juvenile?
On the merits of drilling now versus using alternative energy sources now rather than 30 years from now, let me quote a famous Democrat slogan: IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID!!!! Use the cheapest energy first. Oil, even at $4.00 a gallon, is the cheapest transportation energy source. Nuclear and coal are the cheapest fuel source for electricity. Natural gas is the cheapest way to heat our homes. Eventually, the market price of these fuels will rise and wind, solar, biofuels, etc. made become economically competitive but to mandate us to use these more expensive energy sources sooner than necessary will make all of us poorer!
If the politicians force us to use more expensive sources of energy THE PEOPLE WILL BLAME THE POLITICIANS for making them feel economically stressed.

PELOSI IS GETTING HER *** KICKED AND HER BUG-EYED FACE IN THE SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH ALL THE 'REMAINING COWARD DEMOCRATS' THAT SEEK CONYROL, POVERTY, NO VOICE HIGH TAXES AND FOR US TO BOWN TO A FALSE PROPHET MESAIAH. NOBAMA.
DO YOU WANT 'THESE KIND OF PEOPLE' IN CONTROL OF THIS COUNYRY...NO WAY. THE ENVIRONMENTAL WACK-JOBS AND THE $OROS LYING SOCIALIST DISTROYER GROUPS ARE BEING SEEN FOR WHAT THEY REALLY ARE... TREASONOUS.
HOOOORRRRRAAAAAYYYYYYYY REPUBLICANS!!! Especially Mike Pense. a man with GUTS AND BALLS. LET'S HAVE MORE AND MORE AND MORE OF THIS! NOW.
THEN I WILL CONTRIBUTE! "REALLY CONTRIBUTE AND CHEER MYSELF HOARSE!
GO MC CAIN... (WAKE HIM UP,- VIAGRA, VITAMINS, A BULL HORN... HE SHOULD BE THERE....!!! NOW '''GO MC CAIN!!!!!!!!!.
JEZZIKA

The media (except you guys, Fox & Rush) only want to air the "Bush Bashing".
Funny how the demos are saying "change we can believe in" when the only change they have brought about since taking control in '07 is one financial disaster after another! Then they turn around and blame it all on Bush. How much audacity does that take?!!
It's time for change alright; let's hope the American people wake up and get this country back to what we had for the last 7 of 8 years in a row... a THRIVING ECONOMY!
Hopefully Fox will get their cameras rolling and let the people know what's going on right now! Show them the truth! Show them how the Demos don't care if they can afford to drive to work! Show them how the Demos would rather go on one of their many extravagant vacations (that they can all EASILY afford thanks to the hard-working American taxpayers) than to bring about a resolution for the American people?s livelihood and welfare! SHOW THEM and TELL THEM THE TRUTH that NEVER gets told on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC!
Vote the Demos out so we get it all changed back to the way it was! Good grief, soon they will want to change our motto to "In Obama We Trust"! Heaven knows they want to take God out for good.
Hopefully, the people will once again see through all the media's predisposition to persuade, promote and progress liberal propaganda, and rise up and vote the Demos out for good? for the good of the American people.
Drill, Drill, Drill now, but also begin developing other sources of energy for tomorrow.
As T. Boone Pickens says on his website http://thepickensplan.com/ ?At current oil prices, we will send $700 billion dollars out of the country this year alone ? that's four times the annual cost of the Iraq war?.
Let?s DO something to end that HUGE gaffe pleeaz!!!
IMAGINE what $700 billion a year could do to fuel our economy, build some alternative energy plants, create jobs ? put an end to this whole mess. Just imagine!

U.S.A, U.S.A, U.S.A!!! You go Republicans! I've had it with this do-nothing Congress who spends their last few weeks passing bills apologizing for something the country shed hundreds of thousands of lives for (abolition of slavery) rather than doing something about our energy problem! Dems are all talk with no applicable solutions for energy!!!

Dems say they are for the middle class and the poor! Are they? They are costing Americans all around this great nation. While 70% want drilling which is more then the majority, the Democratic elected offices won't even have a vote! Yet they want to raise our taxes and cost us more! Vote Republican

This is awesome! It is good to see TRUE American spirit and values presented in congress once again. I am proud of what the Republican house members did, and as for Pelosi and others trying to silence the issue, they are betraying the good of the country and trying to deny the vote because they don't agree with it. This is a "by the people" country. With this event perhaps the congress approval rating will go up.

This whole thing reminds me of the scene in Tiananmen Square with the Republican House members as the man standing in front of the Pelosi controlled tank. We really live in dark times in America when the police are sent in to stop debate in the People's House. Make no mistake that removing the reporters was an attempt to end the criticism of her Highness.
Fascism is alive and well in the USA....

This should be sent to all on your e/mail list, and let the public know what Pelosi is trying to stop! With the gas prices being what they are, and the Democrats trying to stop offshore drilling, they might just lose the upcoming elections by a wide margin! The people are fedup with her tactics, and the liberal side of the isle.

Wow, it's truly inspiring to hear of those brave Republicans standing up for the rights of giant oil megacorporations. Even in the face of very limited supplies at near impossible recovery rates they still push on, for the rights of those brave oil megacorporations. Bravo...Bravo!!

You guys actually believe what the GOP is calling for will have ANY impact on gas prices????????!! As much as me not filing up my car today did.
This is politics at its most sickening and is pure carnival showmanship. Bring back P.T Barnum!

I find this ironic. The Dems want to tell you that they are for the little guy. But their actions show that they are for themselves. How is it a good idea to let the economy be influenced by forces outside of this country? If Hugo Chavez or ImADamnNutJob wanted to rattle sabres then Oil Speculation would raise the price of oil due to the possible shortage. How can we let ourselves be controlled by our enemies? The world is not waiting on Barrack Huessien Obama to come join hands and sing "We Are the World" with all of the people that hate what this country stands for...FREEDOM!!! All of you that think that their should be alternative fuels, use your money and do not buy Oil burning cars. Buy the cars that use alternative fuels. Wait, you will not be able to buy them either, they use plastic, and plastic is made from oil.... Typical people, like to talk out of both sides of your mouth. I think that this country should remain strong, and one way to do that economically is to Drill and refine our own oil so that we cannot be influenced by people and policies outside of this country. While at the same time keeping gas prices down to ease the burden on all Americans. We have yet to see the full outcome of policies that keep us from drilling and refining our own oil. I am afraid that we will not be able to pay for food that will increase in price as long as we are not allowed to drill. And BO wants to force a private sector firm to pay every American $500.00 for making profit. How is that democratic? You reap what you sow Liberals....

It's about time that someone get a spine and start making some real noise! The Dems are screwing themselves and the American people. If they think that this will win them the election, they are smoking something laced with stupidity, and communism. Pelosi and her tactics are nothing more than a way of keeping Obama from having to vote yay or nay on the issue, and to keep the economy down and shaky in order to create more dependents for the up and coming welfare state. Hear the latest? They want another stimulus package. More socialist crap! HOW ABOUT A BIG FAT TAX CUT!!! Forget the stimulus package, LET ME KEEP MY OWN MONEY!!! What a bunch of IDIOTS!!!

I am so proud to be a repulican today. These congressmen apparently understand that they are elected by the people of this great country to SERVE the peoples' will. It's just like a democrat to say "a new poll just came out saying that 69% of the American public wants to lift the ban, but you know what? I am smarter than they are so I will decide what is best for them."
WHO THE HELL DO THESE ELECTED DEMOCRATS THINK THEY ARE? Apparently, they don't like how their fellow Americans think.
It's simple. We want to become less dependent on foreign oil lady. Yes, we still want to KEEP (yes people we are currently investing billions in alternatives already) investing billions in alternatives, but we also want to use what we have. The 10 cents in 10 years is complete horse****. Also, the claims about offshore drilling "ruining the environment" is complete horse****.
VOTE REPUBLICAN!!!

Totalitarian Tyrant in a skirt.. The Democrat men put that Elitist, Twit Housewife in there; and they should take her out..
Like many woman, I find that I can barely speak of That Woman without becoming crass, or worse.. As House Speaker, Pelosi is supposed to represent Americans, not just her Gang of Socialist Thugs.. The woman is out of control and needs to go..

The donkeys are saying two things that are in direct conflict: 1) that the price of oil is due to speculation, and 2) that opening these area up to exploration won't have an immediate effect. One of those can't be true. Which is it?

Drill or no drill, it makes no difference (to the environment or gas prices). The truth is that we have PLENTY of oil in domestic wells that have existed for a long time. It's the fat cat oilmen (in office and in the petrol biz) who refuse to pump it out....to maintain their vast RECORD profit margins.
Stop arguing lib vs. cons already (it's a complete farce) and place blame where it is well deserved.....Chevron ,Exxon/Mobil, BP, Texaco, etc.
Do you honestly think that companies that depend entirely on a supposed "limited" supply of raw materials would be long ago pursuing alternatives? Do you think they would hang on to crude until the very last drop is pumped out of the ground before
finally looking to alternatives? COME ON AMERICA, WAKE UP !!!!!!
There is absolutely no shortage of this stuff....the shortage is in American's ability to think critically and independently (independent of the heavily controlled media).

The Republicans are wrong on this one. They block the bill to curve speculation and attempt to hijack Congress into voting for more drilling? This is nothing but an attempt to get one issue they feel they have a little leverage on. I am not opposed to drilling. But the speculation bill would have had a more immediate impact on pricing. Drilling, just like the big tax breaks the Energy industry received benefits those companies more then the people. I am sick of both parties, but the games the Republicans are playing are destroying our country. The moral part of the party is off in the corner while the greedy wing welds its power. And the middle class is caught in the middle.

It seems to me that the Democrats are only interested in their power, no matter what it costs the public. Theky have blocked, stalled, lied, and lied even after the lie has been disproved; and cheated to get themselves elected and there is no thought of this country or it's people. They have put us in the position of being beholden to the mideast countries who do not care about our financial stability or our people.

Nancy Pelosi and her democrat party are acting like Joseph Statlin and Adolf Hitler. This is the House of the people of the United States. CSPAN is my eyes and ears on what is going in our house. These Democrat members should be voted out. Next thing you will see is Miss America ( Nancy Pelosi) start arresting Republicans or anyone with a opposite view. Let's stop this Marx's takeover.

nancy should remove her crown and submit to the will of the people and admit that she is in defiance of the people who pay her salary, (whether she needs it or not) and she along with many of her underlings do not represent the thoughts, values and dreams or aspirations of the majority of the American people. What is she doing in such a position of authority since she clearly cannot be trusted to do the PEOPLES business but conducts her own agenda.

I believe that by law C-SPAN is only allowed to have the camera's on when congress is in session (and it must be on when they are in session). It is not up to them to decide when they and broadcast. They are only allowed to show the podium, so even if they were on, we would not get to see the great show in the seats and balcony. Usually it is a great idea - can you just imagine the antics those bozo's would be pulling if the camera could swing around to see them.

To those that oppose drilling you need to do your homework. The alternate energy is 30 yo 50 years away. I challenge you to even name the source of your so called solution. There is enough oil,and natural gas, in the reserves of this countrry to fuel our growth for two hunderd years. What the republicans are doing here if continued will win back the house and maybe the senate. If they can see the opportunity in actions like those taken today and use them as a springboard the libs are in trouble. If the media were not so deep in the tank for the lib agenda they would'nt have the power they now have. Pelosi is as dumb as a box of rocks and there are two ways to get rid of her. If her dems don't take her out the voters will.

I have seen comments on here by the democrats repeatedly claiming that A) more drilling won't do anything and why aren't they using the leases they already have B) they can't believe that we would want to let the oil companies make even more money C) It was the rebuclicans that caused all this in the first place.
Wrong, wrong and wrong.
A) Are you crackheads? The estimates for the amount of oil held in these banned areas range from a FULL 2 YEAR SUPPLY of America's oil demand to a FULL 10 YEAR SUPPLY. If it was 2 years it would be a tremendous help! Spread that out over the course of 10 years and it reduces our imports of oil by a whopping 20% a year (that's not accounting for our gradual decrease in oil consumption from the addition of alternatives as time goes by). You don't think that will help? Then you are an idiot. The recoverable oil they already have on their leases is so costly to recover that they wouldn't be able to compete with the foreign sources so it's basically useless. Drop it.
B)These oil companies are MASSIVE, therefore they have MASSIVE PROFITS when times are good. Their profits are no more percentage wise than any other company that is doing well. They are in a great position right now and they deserve great rewards. Whose fault is it that they are in this position....
C) The environut controlled democratic party. This is the party who would not allow more drilling, this is the party who would not allow more refineries, this is the party who would not allow nuclear plants, this is the party who tries to stop every clean burning coal plant from being built, this is the party who stops new man made lakes with massive hydroelectric capabilities because of, and I am not kidding, endangered beetles and non native minnows!
We need both to expand our energy sources and make the move to alternatives. Don't sit in the corner like a scared little kid thinking an oil rig is going to kill every fish in a 300 mile radius.

To those that oppose drilling you need to do your homework. The alternate energy is 30 yo 50 years away. I challenge you to even name the source of your so called solution. There is enough oil,and natural gas, in the reserves of this countrry to fuel our growth for two hunderd years. What the republicans are doing here if continued will win back the house and maybe the senate. If they can see the opportunity in actions like those taken today and use them as a springboard the libs are in trouble. If the media were not so deep in the tank for the lib agenda they would'nt have the power they now have. Pelosi is as dumb as a box of rocks and there are two ways to get rid of her. If her dems don't take her out the voters will.

All the sudden obambi is willing to compromise about drilling? "The gang of ten", good thing. Dig,and look, and listen. Mr. Ploufee/pfluffer, used the arrogant comment of ,"we do not need Florida or Ohio, if we can pull Georgia and Virginia. So, Chambliss , popular in Georgia, is in play for the black vote. As per the fluffer, if Georgia shows a strong black vote.Hmmm..... Georgia is signing up for off shore drilling.

Go Republicans, GO! Show the Dems they have unfinished business in Congress (opposite of Progress today if ever there was any). How this nation can elect Democrats, who couldn't care less how much you have to spend on fuel as long as they get their precious vacation, is beyond logic. Pelosi is a JOKE! Get back to work, Pelosi! Get to work! Get to work! Get to work!

These guys are awesome!
The President's fax machine was busy all afternoon with people demanding that he call an Emergency Session of Congress!
Rep Culberson posted the cellphone video coverage on his Qik site;
http://qik.com/johnculberson

Funny how all of a sudden the GOP rush to the argument that polls show that the majority of the public are for offshore drilling, hence, we should immediately act towards those goals. Yet they don't care if a majority of the people say the Iraq War was a bad mistake. Haahaa..Goes to show how Big Oil has the GOP in their back pocket!

Give 'em hell boys! Go Republicans!! GO, GO, GO!!!!
Pelosi's refusal to understand the U.S. Government belongs to the U.S. People, may well be the un-doing of the Democrat party.
Give 'em hell! Stay there all night. This is becoming big news.

What a stupid stunt.
and for those of you who think this is sooo important, why do you want to give the oil companies MORE of YOUR land (yues, YOUR land and MY land, since it belongs to YOU and ME) when they already have millions of acres locked up on which they are doing NOTHING?
When the oil companies develop those other leases, we can talk about handing them more of our land. Until then, it's a non-starter.
This is all about transferring public property into private hands. If you think it is about lowering your gas prices, you are ill-informed.

The One we have been waiting for (Mr GoodWrench Barrack) says just inflate your tires and get a tune-up. Tires Pressure? Check...Tune-Up? Not due for another 95,00 miles (~ 6yrs from now at current use)... What can I do in the mean time?... When Obama tosses the environmentalists under the bus... say hi to Rev Wright, Grandma, Ludicrous, campaign finance reform, death penalty et al and let us know if the undercarraige needs servicing. Obama will be seen wearing a hard hat on an oil derrick before November claiming it was his idea all along. Repubs your greatest strength is the quality of your opponents.

This is the best thing House Republicans have done in a long time, and Rep. Boehner should be commended. The Republican Members showed some fighting spirit (desperately needed) and explained the utter foolishness of the Democrats' short-sighted, economically illiterate, and misguided opposition to more drilling.
Vote GOP!

This is a typical liberal response to silence anyone that disagrees with them. Never seen a party with so much interest in taking away everyones rights.
"Bug Eyes", can turn out the lights but she can't get her book to sell. It is presently about #1500 on the Amazon best seller list. I guess the people have spoken and do not want to read the drivel of liberals.

STOP THE BUS !!!!! WHERE DO WE THE PEOPLE GO FROM HERE ???? DO YOU UNDERSTAND...?????? NO MORE BS !!!! ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS !!!!! PLEASE ONE SENTENCE ONLY ON THIS SUBJECT, "WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE" ?????????

Are these Americans so short sighted that they think another 15 years of oil will fix all of their woes.. Just another example of trying to push the problem onto the next generation. If they succeed, hopefully the next generation has more courage than they.

Every Congressman that left, to go on vacation at a time when this country needs it's elected leadership to actually do what they were elected to do, should be arrested and prosecuted for treason, and Abondoning Their Posts during a time of National Emergency.
Every one of the Traitors should be recalled by their constituents and taken to task on their failure to do their job.
This is NOT a Partison rant, but the statement of an US Citizen who is fed up of his government hanging him out to dry.

This lobotomized-face-lift-gone-bad fascistic cow needed to get those aging legs out of her support hose and rushed home on her private jet. 'Let them eat cake' was the last utterance this delusionianl stuttering half-wit was heard muttering. This multimillionaire and her equally rich husband could care less. Her jet is air conditioned, so is her huge home, let the little people save. Nancy peeloose is an old woman in pointed shoes with swelling feet who is supposedly working for the people of this country. Oooops, that's what you thought. She must be in the early stages of dementia by ignoring her low ratings and the demands of 78% of the people of the USA! Nancy, go home and stay home!! Peeloosie, you are not the empress of the USA!You are an employee of the people of the USA, try to get it into the two remaining cells in your brain!

Drill here, drill now - agreed. There is oil found in certain areas. The oil companies are interested in those areas, not areas that won't be worth a crap - such as those people say they should drill vice ANWR and offshore. Common sense, no? Good for the Republicans, it's about time they started calling the Dems out on this stuff idiocy.

First, I want to thank Drudgereport.com for posting this since the liberal media wouldn't do it. Great job, Matt! Looks like now this is becoming a huge story. Secondly, I have always respected both parties (and I'm a conservative) but after today's event of the Democrats refusing to address our energy problems so they can take 5 weeks off, I am deeply disturbed and downright offended as an American citizen. As I have read from others, we can make the "change" that Obama keeps promising by voting these people out that refuse to address what our country needs. We pay for these people so I think it's time we look for new management. As a few have posted, Mr. Bush, please create some order in the House and recall them to take care of these issues. I wish I got a 5 week vacation!!!

Yee Haw! Just what I love to see... Democracy in action. Pelosi is not the school not. Congress is the PEOPLE'S House and the Democrats DO NOT own it!
Keep up the great work guys, we are all behind you. Drill Here, Drill Now!

I can't believe how immature the democrats are being. Turning off the lights and mics? How childish!! I mean, calling the Republicans a bunch of morons for staying on the floor? They should be commended for staying because at least they have the drive to stick to something! What did the demos do? Run like a bunch of babies because they didn't want to stay any longer than they absolutely had to. It's no wonder their ratings are in the toilet.

For those who comment that drilling now will have very little impact (and even that in the future). You are neglecting to consider a few things: drilling will increase supply but is only part of a comprehensive strategy to make the US energy independent. So, don't scream that it's not a cure-all when it's not presented as one. Second, future benefits should not be scoffed at. If we had drilled 10 years ago, we would be reaping those benefits today (however large or small). Third, Oil futures is a speculative market, so drilling today could very well drastically reduce prices today. Examples of this are easy to find: a hurricane forms in the Gulf of Mexico, gas prices go up on the expectation that drilling platforms could be damaged and reduce supply. Finally, (and unrelated to the above), stifling votes is not a new practice, and is one that has been done by both parties. However, this one seems to stink mightily because the issue is so important and is hitting the economy hard right now. Tack the 5 week vacation and the perception that Pelosi is covering for Obama really makes this feel like elitist, me first behavior on Pelosi's part.

This should of been broadcasted. Good for the republicans, what wonderful patriots. I wish I could of been there to cheer them on. Pelosi has no concern for the people of this country. We need to drill for oil. Not every one has the money to go out an purchase a new car. They have to live with what they have. I am still upset about her spending my tax money so she can purchase flowers. I hope Rush discusses this on his program.

As Pelosi and her boy Hoyer flee Washington with their tails between their legs, in expensive taxpayer-funded and taxpayer gas-filled private jets and limos, their 9% approval rating is inflated...it's really lower! Bush needs to call for an "energy emergency" special session and hold these no-shows accountable to the American taxpayers.

Pelosi and Reid should be ashamed of themselves. They aren't listening to the American public...they are playing partisan politics, as usual. We, their constituents, are left out here with our gas caps open...looking for a break and they refuse to even hold a "vote" to "debate" what we should do. I happened to see a snippet (don't watch the show) of her visit on the "View"...she actually said..."her office was a very important office...the President was first, then the Vice President and then her (the Speaker)! Dah! like we didn't have that in high school. But what was so unbelieveable about it was the arrogance with which she said it. She thinks she is "queen" of America! Get real...she is a puppet of the real head turners...Kennedy & Kerry and the like. We need to clean house on our government and start by putting term limits on these dolts! The Republicans said it right tonight in an interview...Pelosi darkened the house she thinks she controls...the Republicans opened it up as the "people's chambers"! I congragulate the "gang of 10" for their bi-partisanship on trying to get something done for America! I applaud those Republicans/Democrats that stayed and stood with them tonight! Let's take back our country from the power mongers! God Bless America...we want Congress to get something done and we want it done now! We want all alternatives...drilling here and drilling now...we also want every other alternative there is to finally rid America of enslavement to the Middle East...we are 10-30 yrs late. Had they done something back then we'd be fine now...let's not wait another 10-20 yrs...by then we'll be done with!

Nasty Pelosi and her socialist democrats don't give a damn about what americans pay at the pump. Their 5 week vacation is more important Bush should call them back into session now. Lift the oil moratoruim and Obama and the democrats are done because inflating your tires and getting a tune up doesn't solve it.

I am outraged over this. Who does Nancy Pelosi think she is. No one named her God. The American people are seeing our Constitutional rights being taken away by these socialists. We had better wake up soon before we find ourselves living under these Liberals. Nancy Pelosi has done nothing to make life better for any American. She is just self-grandizing. I hope everyone calls their Congressman and Senator and let them know what they thin about this latest assault by Nancy Pelosi. Who does she thin she is anyway.?????

I also e-mailed the White House to ask President Bush to recall the House and Senate from their undeserved five week vacation. The American people demand to heard on this in a vote in both houses of Congress.

And stupid you put up with this BS as BOTH parties dance with the money. Pelosi has no shame, and when GW isn't around anymore who will she and her HACKS blame? Not that the right has anything to really celebrate. Had that chance to really do something and just ****ed it away. Neither one of these parties care, and you have to ask yourself where the true leaders of this nation are. Sell it to the highest bidder, let the banks and Wall Street bend the law, merge all the big companies into gods and crush the middle class. No shame in the halls of Congress. No shame in DC. No care, either. Time to wake up.

You republican hacks realize that by the time any of this oil would hit the market, if we didn't already have a viable alternative to petroleum, we'd be in much more serious trouble than we already are, right? That, and it'd barely put a dent in the global petrol market.
Oh, and Bush's lifting the administrative ban was purely symbolic, as it is also banned by legislation. It had nothing to do with the recent price dip.

I am glad to see that the 1st Amendment is alive and well in Nancy's House. Just imagine the US after a year of Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Rangel, Leader Reid and President Obama. "Change" is all I will have left in my pocket on payday.

Is there some way those of us who have posted here can stay together? A new website, or blog, or something to keep us together and keep the Dems nervous? I don't know enough about the internet to do anything, but sure would join in anything someone else might know to keep us together.

according to C-Span's Brian Lamb, House cameras are solely operated under the discretion of the speaker and the session has adjourned.
Theres the reason.
The only people broadcasting this little revolt was, wait for it, Fox News, the republican shouting station. I like how everyone on here is prasing the republicans, but they really didnt do anything. They left at 5 o'clock, which is when thier work day ends, and no taxpayers money would be thier to pay them, they left. If they are really concerned they would have stayed there all night, but in reality, they don't care. It's all about votes.
It's funny how most everyone on here is so uniformed, you really think offshore drilling, and drilling in the ANWR is going to help. It's actually funny to see how dumb most Americans are. Read some studies on this issue, which would let you know that this little drilling crap will have a negligible affect. People need to quit watching fox news, and read a book, read an article, or just go back to school to learn something.
(It's also funny how everyone calls dems "socialist", what is this, the red scare of the 20's? And most of you dont have a clue what socialism is! It's just a catchy right wing remark.)

Uh, let's see what I'ved learned from this "article".
1. Pelosi was right to not allow a vote on off-shore drilling before leaving for a 5 week vacation. Who care about high gas prices? Maybe it will force those evil SUV's off the road.
2. Republicans "...are busy bashing Pelosi..." Oh, I see. Republicans are "bashers". Like other types of "bashers" i.e. "gay bashers". Thanks for pointing this out.
3. It's all just a "GOP stunt". Oh, I see.
4. Republicans were "morons" for staying on the floor.
5. Republicans are "ripping Pelosi"
6. Republicans were "accusing Democrats of stifling dissent...Really? "Accusing"? You mean "stifling dissent" was not really happening?
7...."Republicans have their "tantrum". Oh, like a "temper tantrum", right?
I guess we all know where the un-named author of this "Politico" article stand on the issues.
I'm confused though...Is this a "news report" or an "editorial/opinion". It seems like it's the usual brew of "activism journalism" that has replaced "news reporting" in the Mainstream Media. Is the "Politico" really an alternative? I see talking heads on TV that say they're from "Politico.Com"?
2. Republicans were ""

The Democratic Congress is running a parallel Government in opposition to the one elected by the American people. Mrs Pelosi do not represent the wishes and needs of the Majority.She lives a very cozy life and the price of gasoline is not achallenge for her budget...

a cross-eyed, anorexic mullato greying ***got drug user, or a 5th from the bottom of his class of 400 reverse ace wife abuser.
maybe we should all say NO
buy silver and weapons
and attack washington dc

This whole thing would make a great campaign commercial. Ad starts with Republican talking about the issues ... cuts to the floor and pan to a Democrat putting out the lights as the Republican is talking about an issue. Or you could choose my Dem. opponent.
:p

The liberals (democrats) should be relabeled the anti-American socialist party. I see many comments referring to the peoples work. Conflict is good. Roberts Rules of Order are based on common courtesy. We do not recognize titles of nobility. With that said Zsar Pelosi needs to remeber what agreat country she lives in. By the way is she a 14TH Amendment citizen or a 10TH Amendment citizen?

When the Jerry Springer show first aired I thought WOW.... there must be a small group of some really stupid people out there, and that the show wouldn't last that long because there can't be that many idiots out there. WOW... the show is still around which explains her base. But while Springers' guests are OK with who they are she pretends to be something she is not;
AN HONEST GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WORKING DILIGENTLY FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMON GOOD OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
She is however;
an incompetent bias leader who lacks even a thread of common sense.
It would be an honor to switch to the republican side and show some common sense.

BTW, why didn't the GOP try to lift offshore drilling during their 12 long years in charge? Or during their 2005 Energy Bill giveaway? Answer: This is ALL ABOUT playing politics -- and nothing more.---PacNW
Well, how about do a little history reading, Douche-bag! The Republicans wanted to lift the ban, but let's see...the environmentalist's lapdogs, the Democrats, filibustered the bills!! Don't come around here spouting ignorant excrement. You only look like the left coast liberal fool you are!

Why won't they take a vote? The Democrats have a majority, and if they know it is bad. It should fail easily. So what is the big deal, just take the vote and get it over with.
People that oppose getting our own oil are either stupid or anti-American.

BTW, why didn't the GOP try to lift offshore drilling during their 12 long years in charge? Or during their 2005 Energy Bill giveaway? Answer: This is ALL ABOUT playing politics -- and nothing more.---Teri
Teri, you are a dumb ass! The oil companies are doing all of the f-ing work to get the oil, and they deserve every penny of every profit dollar they make! They already pay more taxes than any other industry in the world! So they made 11.7 billion this past quarter. Big deal! They spent 10 times that amount to explore and extract the oil. You, Teri, are what is wrong with this country! YOU are IGNORANT, just like the C--t in charge of the House!

Republicans have been lying to the American people about offshore oil drilling. Offshore oil drilling while it would imperil the environment would not solve our energy problem, would not reduce gas prices and would not make us energy independant. There is too little oil there to make a difference in fact, the amount of oil there would only be able to supply about 1-2% of our energy needs. What we would end up with is high gas prices, oil shortages, and a polluted environment. The only people who would benefit are wealthy oil companies, while the american people would suffer from polluted and ruined environments and increased contamination from pollution of offshore oil drilling, which cannot be done safely. Oil companies know offshore oil drilling is not safe and results in a degradation of coastal environments, but of course will not admit it and cover up the reality of what they do to the environment because there is money to be made. We certainly should not allow our coastal environments to be ruined and threatened for oil which will not solve our problems, which will serve only to enhance oil company profits and which cannot solve the energy crisis. We should not damage our environment so a few fat cats can get rich. We instead need to invest heavily in renewable energy development which is the true long term solution and can be done in an environmentally responsible manner and instead of polluting our environment, leaving our children with a polluted environment from an energy source that will be gone by the time a child born today is 40, instead we can develop permenant renewable energy sources and protect our environment. I think the democrats just got tired of Republicans going on with their lies, lies which are being told to please their oil company sponsors, lies which will not help the American people and which will not solve the energy problem, and which are meant to decieve americans by making it appear Republicans are doing something when they are doing nothing except giving kickbacks to their oil company spmonsors which will benefit them but no one else.

teri at 10 pm: what do you mean give back some of their profits? Do you have a damned dictionary? Read what profit means! They profit because they extract the oil, and then the limited (by democrats) amount of world oil is sold on open market- meaning china, phillipines- the world- can bid up- they want it too and will pay as much as we are... Now: if there was more oil than demand, then the price comes down. The demand can be fueled by fear too...folks who sell oil, want to have oil to sell... so they will buy a lot now, thinking there will be less later.... BUT: if we drill here drill now, that fear is removed, See? Or are you just a stupid brainless cheap scum democrat?

I bet it was fun to watch Mother Goose Pelosi leading her little waddling Democrat ducks out of the House Chamber. Wonder if any of the Democrats have room for expression. DYSFUNCTIONAL Get Pelosi out of the House.

I think Mrs.Pelosi &Cia (Democrats) starting loosing control... hah....This prove that they don't care about American People they just think to have their green vacation with their green cars using green gasoline which it might would be and the hell with Americans. They try to make us submissive to take over.But we are Americans we don't accept a Communist government like the China did for so long and still do. You should be ashamed of yourselves. This only is going to hurt you your fools and I'm happy.

I can't get my mind around the fact that China can drill off of our coast but we can't.. We can't even talk about it. So much for Pelosi's bipartisan approach to government. She's not a socialist she's a Marxist.

YES! Finally! Say no to Nancy Pelosi the present day Stalin. She needs to be removed from her position as fast as possible! She does not do the will of the American people. She is mentally disturbed, unstable, and a fascist woman who needs severe help. Clean her out of the HOUSE! They get a longer vacation than most people. Are they going to use more energy and fuel than the American people to enjoy their vacation! WAY TO GO REPUBLICANS!!! It is about time you stop giving in to these Communists!

It is about time!! Now we can see WHICH party is wants to help solve the problem. If the Dems hadn't stood in the way for the last 20 years on this issue, we wouldn't be where we are today. I know their line is "well, we can't get oil for ten years" (a lie, by the way) but if you take that same analogy, why, then, do you go to school? After all, it take 12-13 years to complete that?
THEY (the DEMS) are singlehandedly strangling the economy by refusing to open new areas where we KNOW oil is right now. I would much rather have my future in the hand of American capitalists who have the incentive to make and sell a product, than a bunch of foreigners who would just as soon see us collapse as a nation. And from an economic standpoint they are keeping the supply tight to drive up the price.
WAY to go, you statesmen that stood up today for us, the common everyday people who are just out there trying to make it. Thank you for staying and trying to help us while the rest went on their 5 WEEK VACATION!!

I DON'T CARE WHICH OF YOUR LEGS GO INTO YOUR UNDERWEAR FIRST !! I WANT THE BUSH TO CALL THEM ALL BACK TO VOTE !!!!!! ASAP,ASAP,ASAP,ASAP,ASAP,ASAP,ASAP,ASAP,ASAP,ASAP,ASAP,ASAP,ASAP,ASAP,ASAP,ASAP,ASAP. DO IT AT 11:00 PM EAST STANDARD TIME............

I am a democrat and I had intended to vote for Obama. After reading this, and to hear that MY democrat congress decided that a vacation was more important than letting a vote happen that could reduce future prices of gas and oil. It sickens and saddens me. I thought having a democrat controlled congress would be the best thing that could happen. It is now plain to see that having democrats in any sort of power is a huge mistake. I can not believe I was so blind

Figures, the biased media passed on this great story. If it had been a stunt pulled by the dems, oh boy, we'd of had hours of non stop kudos. When is anything ever going to get done by Congress? Pelosi and her ilk promised all kinds of stuff ---nothing! I'm angry and frustrated that we live to far away or we would have been around to join in the cheering. Go GOP go. Too bad Nancy doesn't do much with the Internet or she'd read and see just how the American grassroots folks feel about her do nothing Congress. Did you she her the other day, I'm so important, 3rd in line. Along with, "I'm trying to save the planet". Hey, about saving the USA first.

There really is only one thing wrong with pelosi. IT'S ALIVE!!! Really that goes for any cheap scum democrat... you can spend all week complaining how they destroy freedom, commit treason, aid the enemy, steal our wealth and give it away, over tax us, lie to get elected, cause the murders of too much of black america with gun control and the welfare state, ignore our porous borders...bla bla bla bla....but it all boils down to the one thing that encompasses all of their crimes.
They are ALIVE!!!

So, then the military sides with the republicans and the capitaol policce side with the Dems. I think the Republicans would win. Time to force the issue. Let the republicans bring measures up and vote on them. Let them open up off shore drilling. Let the dems tr to stop all this by arresting them. If wwe have any loyal military leaders they will come in and side with the republicans. Game over. Let the militaray establish en emergency government. There is an emergency, the left is bought and paid for ny our enemies who want to conquer us by crippling us. Bush ois also bought and paid for by the same enemies who want to smuggle millions of operatives over the border. The time to save this country is now. The time for the miloitary to act is now.

I thought that Pelosi was all about Bipartisanship!? In reality she is all about "screw" us simple minded citizens! She could care less about us. She only cares about the sponsorship of the Sierra Club and the NDF! Typical socialist!! How can anyone with half a brain support this person???!???????????

Great now the party which states they want to work in a bipartisian method have Nancy Pelosi wearing Black Boots and Goose Stepping, using Nazi methods to stop a vote. Next time you have to pay HIGH PRICES for GAS, You can thank a Democrat because it is them and no one else who is causing the High Prices!- Remember that when you VOTE, VOTE OUT THE DEMOCRATS!

What is clear is that the Democrats are unwilling to allow debate on solutions to the current energy crisis, and the transfer of US wealth to the very nations who fund those who attack Americans, at home and abroad.

MAKE THEM VOTE G.B. DO IT AT 11:00 EST . PLEASE .. FOR ALL THE FAMILIES THAT NEED YOUR HELP.YOU UNDERSTAND DON'T YOU? WE NEED YOUR HELP AT THIS HOUR .. IF YOU HEAR THIS MAY GOD BLESS US ALL..BE BRAVE G. BUSH , BE BRAVE .

Great now the party which states they want to work in a bipartisian method have Nancy Pelosi wearing Black Boots and Goose Stepping, using Nazi methods to stop a vote. Next time you have to pay HIGH PRICES for GAS, You can thank a Democrat because it is them and no one else who is causing the High Prices!- Remember that when you VOTE, VOTE OUT THE DEMOCRATS!

IMPEACH NANCY PELOSI TODAY!!!!! WE NEED TO DRILL......... and VOTE OUT EVERYONE (POLITICIAN) who stands in the way of Drilling! Democrats dont want us to know that they are the ones who are WRONG! Next time you gas up with high priced gas, just remember you can thank a Democrat!

11:23 a.m.?! I wish I could leave work at that time. We have soldiers at war, gas prices sky rocketing, illegal problems and they think that it's okay to leave at 11:23 in the morning? Politicians are a waste. Every single one of them. They DO NOT represent the people in any form. Government should be small and not have this much control. We the people need to take this county back. Yes I am angry, because they take our money and do nothing, well except try to turn us into a socialist country.

Apparently everyone has either forgotten or never bothered to learn why we take foreign oil over our own at this point in history. The supply of oil is finite. If we use all of our own oil first we will be truly dependent on foreign oil and not have any form of recourse, not even military might to take it. Tanks run on fuel derived from oil. If we use everyone else's oil first, then when it runs out we still have our own supply. Our leaders and our people used to understand this simple concept.

Drill it, dump it on the market, crash the price, buy every last drop we can get our hands on and hoard it. Sell back into the market at $800.00 a barrel, use money to build nuclear power plants, and screw the rest of the world!!!!!

All the 'Rah rah' stuff from Repub fanboyz notwithstanding, this is purely a PR stunt to fire up the 'low information voters'.
No amount of voting to allow offshore drilling is going to bring down gas prices in the next 20 years. So none of this is going to get the US out of the horrible economic position that eight years of mis-management by a Republican administration and a Republican-controlled Congress has put us in.
These guys have nothing to contribute, so they're going the route of striking political points instead!

The sad part is there are so many Democrats on this website who think the Republicans only answer is to drill. I have not heard one Republican say that. They want to pursue wind, solar, hydrogen. They want to utilize nuclear and coal. AND they want to drill for more natural gas and oil. Why shouldn't we utilize the resources we know we have until other enrgies are developed and perfected. It is absolutely mind numbing when Democrats think we shouldn't use the resources we already posess.

If that were the case I'd be with you Thomas, but sadly it is not. Nacy is "trying to save the planet" and Harry says "oil and coal makes him sick"! We need to drill to supply Americans with American oil until such time as we are we have other sources of energy. The new technology is not that far away and I support it! So why send our money to these despicable regimes in the mean time? Anyone disagree?

If the Republicans were so concerned with being heard, rather than throwing an incredibly childlike tantrum - they could have walked outside and exercised their right to assembly, and done the damn thing where the people (and the reporters) could see them. it's not like the dems locked them in a box to keep them from being heard.

Finally, the Republicans are listening to the majority of this country - those who want the USA to become self-sufficient once again.
When are the Democrats going to wake up? Can you say: "bipartisan cooperation"?

If this is an example of Democratic leadership - God help us all. Cowards! What are you afraid of? To hell with the polar bears & caribou (not that for one minute I believe they would actually be harmed). Madame Speaker - if you & your party want to freeze to death in the dark, be my guest - but get the hell out of the way of the people's will or get out of office.

So answer me this riddle OBOTS. If drilling offshore is wrong, why has the messiah changed his position???? Either the policy is correct and he now realizes it, or the guy is a scum bag shifting in the wind politician. Well which is it?

Why is the message of reality lost on so many?.. It's common knowledge that it will take at least a decade and many billions to access and pump these reserves. Oil companies will be enrichened beyond even their wildest dreams - meanwhile most of our oil will go to China and we will pay 5 cents less, maybe. Not to mention unspeakable enviornmental damage. By that point the technologigal revolution will have passed us by (again)and we will still have SUVs in the US. Obama you better get it straight or you will LOSE.

Finally - some Republicans who are showing some backbone. I know, I know - in one sense it's just silly. But in another sense it is about time someone did something to fire the Republicans up! Go home Pelosi - read your book. No one else is. Way to go GOP!

So much for the first amendment. Is there still any doubt why the framers of the Constitution added the second amendment? Perhaps we should all be grateful to Pelosi and her hoodlums for the reminder. They are afraid of citizens owning guns, and afraid of counting the votes of soldiers over seas. Remember?

The Democratic party has abondoned its constituency. They only care about the money of the "green" special interest while we blue collar and middle class Americans struggle to make ends meet. I am now convinced that the GOP cares more about the common man than any Dem on the Hill. You have my vote Sen. McCain! There's always Hollywood for you Mr. Obama.

These same Republicans voted "No" on the bill yesterday: "House Republican leaders pressured 13 of their members to switch their vote from ?yes? to ?no.? Thanks to these strong arm tactics and weak members, the bill to lower gasoline prices by controlling profiteers failed by a vote of 276-151, falling ten votes shy of the two-thirds majority required for passage under the suspension of the House rules. Once again, the GOP leadership used -http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/01/house-stunt-on-gas-prices/" This is a stunt! These Republicans only want you to think they are trying to help, while they are paid off by big oil, who has tripled its profits since gas started climbing and 2005! These are the same Republicans who , in the last congress, gave tax breaks to these oil companies during record profits!

The term "The Pelosi Politiburo" is fitting until some people wake up in this Country and see just what the Liberal Left is all about. I remember when we had a Democratic/Republican Congress that was Moderate and got a few things done, now it's a Damn Mess.

All of us out here need to e-mail these Haughty, Imperious Democratic Bums and sceam them back into the Congress and get the job done: No taxation without representation. Tell Dowager Pelosi we will not eat cake. I will be e-mailing and chain lettering the same.

Media Bias - You know if this were the Dems in the dark C-SPAN would be airing it. C-SPAN is a joke.
Go GOP! Its about time they started standing up to the Libs and the media. Finally someone fighting for something. Dont back down..!!

IASUX (Well drop the "A" and it's more accurate) The moment drilling is approved the price of oil will drop. Within six months it will fall below $100. Within 3 - 5 years we will be using the oil you claim will take ten years. Marx - Chavez - Castro - Pelosi - Obama. The new "Pentavlet"

I have seen a lot of stunts in my day, but this has to be the best I have ever seen. I have on my webpage videos of what the Democrats in Congress want and have tried to get over on the American people. www.captaincrunch.org
Nancy Pelosi wants a Socialist government and she is willing to put the American people aside to achieve her goals. She should be tried for treason for attempting to disrupt the American economy during a time of war.

Amazing. The Dems turn the lights off, shut down the mics and the cameras, and then the Repubs get accused of "grandstanding." Pelosi is holding this country hostage, clearly attempting to thwart any serious attempt at authorizing additional domestic drilling. Apparently, she thinks that whatever dollars we send to the Middle East are better spent there than here. What a Rhodes Scholar.

We all know an energy policy needs to be robust (not focused on oil like the last 8 years and not ridiculously unfeasible and dreamy eyed certain and some way left environmental groups that, ughhh, i support too often). There is only one candidate that has put forth a pragmatic and principaled (e.g., NO DRILLING IN ANWR) energy policy - John McCain - conservation, wind/solar, plug-ins/local battery research and production, coal, green building, domestic oil, nuclear, ... - not one, but many - a mosaic of solutions that diversifies in a more substantial way than today our energy resources. Fear mongering way-left environmental groups (see mike above, their mouthpiece), Pelosi, and Obama would have you believe we will be wallowing in oil spills on the beaches of the US for drilling off its shores and that in the end this really amounts to nothing at all over too long a time - this is ridiculous and cost our childrens untold Billions in debt we won't live to repay. Don't we all fantacize about our salvation from our dependence on fossil fuels by replacing it with wind/ocean/solar power (and for those still wasting in the hydrogen dream, wake up ... stored hydrogen is the equivalent of a battery that takes energy to charge) - but we need to get their without bankrupting our country in the process. The arrogance of the democrates leaving the house today without seriously advancing this issue for pure political gain on is offensive, arrogent, insensitive, inappropriate, evasive and insulting to our democratic process ... and unfortunately, not surprising for the leadership of the house (or for either party to do in evading an issue they did not want to address). The dem's and in particular Obama's energy policy alternatives to McCain's lacks depth and vision for a world we actually live in, faith in US cititizens and the democrates should be embarrased. So our demo-re-mix solution to this is - fill your tires and get a tune up (ok, slap us around a bit, repubs and dems agree and we have all known this - many of us could spend a few bucks to save a few bucks with positive results on volume of energy consumed, but can we get a tax rebate for this please), an energy rebate ... (another gimmicky and please you please solution by Obama - agains he provides us salvation, this time from a recession and the pain/ohh do I feel your pain/of higher energy prices - how nice an energy rebate/Christmas is early - thank you papa - didn't we just have a rebate - how are we going to pay for this - ohhh we'll tax -- yes tax, energy companies ....hmmm, don't consumers pay for taxes in the end for necessities and if not and it takes value from the oil companies, who owns them... check your 401K holdings boys and girls), Obama advocated ethanol (hmmm what company is in Decatur, IL... where is Obama from...).... Both candidates are wrong on bio-fuels - it will continue to drive food prices higher still and wreck even more environmental damage around the globe as increasingly marginal farm lands are used or worse yet wilderness converted to the monoculture of corn or soybean. By our overwrought sentimental liberals not taking serious steps to address our energy resource problems before the recess at such a time of hightened focus dems fuel with dollars unsavory oil producing regimes around the world and create those regimes resource for humans rights violations and violent power struggles over oil resources that are the shame of a world community.

Thank you very much for covering this. For me it is not even about the issue. Members of Congress and especially on the democratic side are showing an unbelievable arrogance towards us the American People. When I read that they tried to get the reporters out, well I am outraged. I think they are counting on us being in apathy and not caring any more.
Well I care and I don't want people to represent me who are part of this corruption.

I left my heart
in San Fran
SISSO
Somebody pull her face back and get her to allow a vote. I thought the DemonRatz wanted EVERY VOTE to be counted. O I'm sorry it's ONLY THEIR VOTES that need to be counted

Looks like the dems only worry about themselves instead of the average American. We all suffer while they go on vacation.
They only worry about getting re elected. TERM LIMITS
Sign, a demcrat with a brain

There are videos appearing on YouTube. Apparently I can't post the links here. Just search for "republicans" then narrow the search to those uploaded today. You'll find at least one cellphone video and some news reports from Fox.

WELL THE GOP FINALLY SHOWED SOME KIND OF A BACKBONE. I HAVE READ SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND I CANT BELIEVE THE IGNORANCE OF PEOPLE. SOMEONE SAID THEY AGREED WITH PELOSI IN THAT SE CAN DRILL MORE NOW AND IN 30 YEARS WHAT DO WE DO CAUSE THERE WONT BE ANY LEFT. WELL MAYBE IF RESEARCH WAS DONE PWOPLW WOULD KNOW THAT WE CAN ALMOST SAY WE HAVE TO MUCH OIL. WE HAVE MORE KNOWN RESERVES NOW THAN WE HAVE EVER HAD BEFORE. IN 30 YEARS FROM NOW MAYBE ALTERNATE ENERGY CARS WILL BE WIDELY AVAILABLE. BUT THEY REALLY ARE NOT NOW. THERE IS OIL FOR NOW AND RESEARCH GOING FOR THE FUTURE. ANOTHER WAS THAT WE DONT NEED TO GIVE ANY MORE LAND TO OIL COMPANIES CAUSE IT IS OUR AS THE TAXPAYERS LAND. WELL WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH ANWR UP IN ALASKA. IT AINT GOOD FOR ANYTHING EXCEPT DRILLING. IF YOU HAVE SEEN PICTURES IT IS THE ONLY PLACE UGLIER THAN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO. BUSH NEEDS TO CALL THEM INTO A SPECIAL SESSION AND IF THEY LEAVE THEN CALL THEM TO ANOTHER. IF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING A VACATION FOR THEIR HARD WORK, THE CONGRESS SHOULD NOT GET ONE FOR NOT DOING ANYTHING. FOR ALL WHO SAY THAT DRILLING WONT DO ANYTHING REMEMBER THAT THIS IS AT LEAST AVAILABLE TO US. NEW SUPPOSED GREEN TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOT MASSIVELY THERE AND READY.

did brian from VA not read what was going on, the republicans were trying to do the peoples work after the democrats adjourned without voting on energy policy....lesson....read before you post. GO GOP!

I caucused for Obama but if he does not get on board with drilling I will not vote for him. Regardless of what anyone says, drilling will drop prices. The threat already has. Pelosi does not represent a significant portion of our society. If my party does not lose her soon we will be a joke in five or ten years (actually we already are).

At my own expense, I called both of Nancy Pelosi?s offices, listened to recorded instructions, inviting my opinions on issues followed by a further recorded comment that the "mailbox cannot take messages" or that the "mailbox is full." I implore Speaker Pelosi as the power holder on whether or not to vote, to listen to all American voters! When Congress votes openly, we all know where all representatives stand. Make my vote count and call for a vote.
I am shocked and dismayed that you, Speaker Pelosi, refused to allow a vote on the issue of offshore drilling. A vote simply allows and requires every representative to openly speak for or against an issue. That is representing the American people. You are unilaterally exercising one voice, not a representative republic, nor a democracy.
Please reconsider, call legislators back to Washington, (albeit at considerable expense now that you've adjourned, to me, a taxpayer) and allow a vote. If you're correct in your assertions about what is right for America, offshore drilling will be voted down. If not, if representatives vote in favor, as representatives of American people, the people will indeed have a voice.
Sincerely,gvw

I've seen requests on this blog for the names of the Republicans who made the stand today. This is by no means an official or complete list. I compiled it by watching the videos and reading the news reports. Please add to it or correct it if necessary.
Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio)
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa)
Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas)
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)
Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.)
Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas)
Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz)
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.)
Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)
Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-Ill.)
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.)
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas)
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.)
Rep. Tom Price (R-Georg.)
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas)
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.)
Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah)
These people need to know we support them and want them to continue the fight.

Don't you love it? When the Democrat COWARDS slink off to play, that's okay.
When the Republicans rebel against their COWARDLY act, it's a stunt.
Maybe the smarmy slip n'fall lawyer John Edwards was right - there ARE two Americas!

It is amazing!!! Congress is taking a 5 week vacation and gas is $3.99 a gallon. I could only take my family on a 5 night vacation and it cost me a fortune to drive. Congress is so out of touch with common Americans, it is not even funny. With fuel oil right at $5.25, I know lots of folks where I live in the Appalachian mountains yhat will have to choose between fuel oil, medicine and food. If anyone freezes to death or dies from the lack of heat, I believe criminal charges should be brought up against Nancy Pelosi and anyone else who refuses to drill for more oil. The dems aka. (enviromentalist and tree hugging nuts) have refused to pass legislation that would allow us to build nuclear power plants and build more refineries that could for the past 20+ years provided energy for us. They are the ones to blame for the failed energy policies. For all those who say drilling wouldn't make a difference, I beg to differ. First, if any one of you naysayers watched the U.S. Commodity markets, when President Bush said he was lifting the ban on offshore drilling, the price of oil fell $9 a barrel during his press release. It is simple Supply and Demand. If you say it is okay to drill, prices will come down because that means there is more supply. Second, if Bill Clinton had not vetoed the bill of drilling in ANWAR 10 years ago, we would be getting oil from there now. If anybody and I mean anybody who can with a straight face say that that oil would not be making a difference right now, they are full of sh*t. Third, it is the goal of the environmentalist and socialist/Marxist for us all to give up our way of living. They want us to turn down the thermostats in the winter, eat bean sprouts, put on sweaters and ride in VW bugs/ride a bike or walk to work. However, if you look at Gore, Pelosi and Edwards, they all ride in their own private jets and drive big SUV's and live in huge houses, but tell us that we are the ones who need to conserve and do without while they live high on the hog. Worst of all they send their surrogates/ Kool-aide sippers on sites like this to defend them and tell all Americans that it is all the Republicians fault and that if we just would follow them the whole world will find utopia. Anyone who discredits them or questions them is either labled a neo-con, bigot or stupid redneck hick. I feel it is time that the American poeple stand up and send the Congress a message. WE THE PEOPLE are tired of the BS. Either do your jobs and stand up for the people or it is time for another Boston Tea Party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing to watch the bashing back and forth between the two parties. This is the problem. We do not really have a two party system. Just two side of the political game. They should all hold their heads in disgrace; Republicans and Democrats.

I sent her a nice email. We all should be flooding her with calls and emails. . .Participate!
O and remember it was less then 30% of the US that supported revolution the first time. . .As time passes our constitution has become mired in so much law almost anything these people do is "legal". . .Viva la revolucion!

Luke from Missisippi,
Do you understand that the speculators will just move off-shore to a friendly country if that bill was passed! I guess you can't understand that there are markets all over the world that handle this kind of thing. Take an economics course would you.

Here's another Democrat Hypocrisy:
Remember when Newt Gingrich was Speaker of the House and he got a book deal? Remember the uproar the Dems caused, banding together with their co-conspirators in the MSM, condemning the deal, forcing Newt to give the advance back and not do the book, saying he shouldn't be "abusing his position of Speaker for monetary gain"?
Well, Pelosi has just released a book - it's tanking on Amazon. Where is the uproar about HER book deal? What about HER "abusing the position of Speaker for monetary gain"?
Democrats: Hypocrites. Can't be trusted.
-

OK folks- let us keep this GOING!! If you want to see our country run properly, and not stolen and destroyed by a bunch of despotic evil swine democrat *****s, keep the pressure on them- not only by pestering congress- but put pressure on the brain dead twits who for some unholy reason continue to support the pary apparatus: Boycott democrats in your neighborhoods. If you know a business person who is a dem (a productive dem? actually, a few exist) tell them you will be glad to shop in their establishment when the threat to freedom has been removed- and do not go back until pelosi and company have been censured and removed from office for dereliction of duty and treason. If YOU are a business person- do not answer calls for help from democrats. Let their toilets stop up and overflow. Let theri refrigerators sit broken. Do not deliver their groceries to them. Do not fix their cars. Do not write prescriptions to them....we THE PEOPLE can prevail over these evil god damned swine!!

I notice that a number of commenters here have stated that since "a majority of Americans now support" offshore drilling, that Congress should now allow it, regardless of individual congresspeople's opinions, so as to honor the will of the people.
Well, far, far, FAR more Americans want us out of Iraq than are for offshore drilling. By the "will of the people" argument, shouldn't be have left Iraq at least a year or two ago? One could go on in this vein, of course. A very large majority of Americans favor gay soldiers being able to serve openly, according to many polls in the past couple of years. And yet?

VOTE the elitist/facist snobs out of office!
♠
It's our last chance b4 taking advantage of the 2nd amendment.
Which should always be the last recourse..however, we still have that option.
Unless you let them take that away too.

Daniel- you think wanting the war over to equate to the cheap scum traitor pig dem's version of LOSING the war. Twisted, hysterical beyatch liberals! You will never get it- but I will try to explain to you (I am so tired of it- the energy wasted talking to the vermin could have been producing things..).
We all want the government to earn their god damned (stolen as yet) paychecks. Close the ****ing border, protect us, allow a vote on the drilling...conduct the business we sent them there to do. The cheap scum thieving fascist traitor murder pig democrats are nothing but political maneuvering, and slimy lliars and deceit and obfuscate and divert and take ****ing acations. Well, we are done you get it? This is it, ****ing get back to congress and do the will of the people *******s.

Record profits and tax breaks...both bad words to democrats. Record profits denotes success...tax breaks denote money that should go to the government. Just remember that this country will not succeed without companies making record profits and remember that companies don't pay taxes...people do. For every dollar of profit Exxon made they paid 2 dollars in taxes except they didnt- you did and it was part of the price you paid at the pump.

All you out there that are saying bad things about the Dems are going to found out, rounded up and sent to re-education camps if Obama wins and the dems stay the majority. Be very afraid!
Doens't it sound like thats what they want you to be, afraid?
You can just tell that special interests have complete control of our elected officials.

Bottom line:
That house is supposed to be filled with people who represent all of us;
Not allowing a vote on the most important issue of our time- that's just facism- and that's not a term I throw around lightly...

Hey democrats- not VERY democratIC to split without a vote to drill! A vote on the Americans' bills (not just your ***** crap traitor trash). And you know we are on to you. even democrat voters are waking to you. Unlike after 9/11 when you whimpered "but we are patriotic, we would protect the USA" when some morons fell for your crocodile tears, we KNOW who you are now. You are as much the enemy of freedom and the USA as the god damned stone aged fanatical murder cultists (of whom maybe you are all members?). Flee the country. Spare us all the hassle of having to clean the gear up.... just flee to syria and venezuela and stay there- send an apology to the family who prefers freedom that you left behind- and resign your seats. Scumming evil vermin!!

Finally the Republicans stand up to that dictator Pelosi. She is the worst speaker ever. Speaker? Did I really say that? This is the United States of America, Nanc and all members have a right to speak. Did you have a plane to catch for your 5 week vacation while most Americans canceled theirs? Didn't you guys just get back from your July vacation during Independence Day? Most Americans had to cancel their 4th plans as well. Thanks, Nanc. It has seemed since you 'took over' that any bill that isn't a dems bill gets killed before anyone can debate it. Your idea of a free America is twisted. Let the people speak!!! Time for me to get back to work...look that word up in the dictionary!

Remember too fellow Americans!: the media are not reporting our anger. They too are the enemy! They propagandize for the enemy- they try to make us hate our greatest country ever! ENEMY!! You evil swine deceitful ****ing pigs: Get OUT.

Nancy Pelosi is a traitorous piece of human trash which needs to be disposed of.
Put an end to the vacation. Send them back to do the people's work. Open up offshore drilling, open up ANWR, open the shale deposits and then let's get to work on incentives for solar, wind and nuclear power to contribute.

Stretch Pelosi is a fascist, she does not support free speech (Fairness doctrine), she is a little dictator. Now she is flying to San Fran-sicko on a twin jet airplane. She is not worried about fuel prices. She should be thrown out of office, she is a real disgrace. Does she have that permenant smile because she has had so many face lifts ?

Nancy, enjoy your vacation knowing that you and your partner Dingy Harry are solely responsible for doing absolutely nothing in curbing high gas prices.
Perhaps using your private jet, you can fly to the Olympics during your well earned 5 week vacation. While there, I'm sure you can teach the Chinese a thing or two on abolishing free speech.

Go figure, the Democratic Party left for a FIVE (5) week vacation while we the American people are suffering at the pumps. I pay an exorbitant amount of taxes for this? I WANT MY MONEY BACK -- YOU'RE FIRED!!!!!!!
Get your ***e$ back to work!
Go REPUBLICANS!

Damn that feingold!! I just read a washington post report that feingold wants to prevent the homeland security from checking incoming computers!! HANG THE TRAITORS- ALL OF THEM< EVERY LAST FILTHY PIECE OF GARBAGE- then boil the oil out of their carcass!!!

IDEA PEOPLE!!! remember the "million man march" with about 250,000 people and the milliion mom marches with about 3,000 people? Well, we could hold a Million (fixed) Bayonets March, and I would bet ten dollars we get fifteen MILLION people. Let the scum try to scamper out of town for that!!

All we are saying is give drilling a chance . . . . All we are saying is give drilling a chance . . . . All we are saying is give drilling a chance . . . .
I forget the rest of that 60's crap, but I bet the Dems remember. Lets give them a new tune their little brains can't ignore.
I haven't been this proud to be an American (wups, almost pulled a Michelle).
Keep it up guys. Pickle Puss Pelosi must be the hair out of her wig!
The Dems that don't drill are the Dems that don't get re-elected!
Happy day! Democracy in action.
For God and country people, for God and country.

""I love this," Shadegg told reporters up in the press gallery afterward. "Congress can be so boring. ... This is a kick."
Translation: No we can really be the juveniles we really are.
I thought when politico first came out they might be a political that ended up amounting to something. However, after reading this thread I can see they are just another large website where the politically illiterate can get together to pontificate.

This is typical Republican grand standing and political antics. The Republicans need to go home, and we can all make sure of that in November.
VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA AND LETS GET A DEMOCRAT WIN IN NOVEMBER!

It's no wonder the approval rate of Congress is in the single digits. I'm so sick of the games they play, the heck with the American people's problems. We need a big change in the way things are done for the sake of our country.

Democrats claim to be the "Party of Tolerance".
Yeah, ONLY if you agree with them. Show ANY dissent and watch how fast they swarm you with their assumed grandeur of wisdom and "concern for the little people". They continue with "handouts" as their primary platform...but if you only give people what they want and don't make them work for it you're only contributing to the root problem - peoples' dependency on others. So it comes out in other areas, such as with oil. They want us to be dependent on foreign countries so we can continue to hate and bash ourselves. Pride is doing for yourself what you DON'T NEED others to do for you. F'n Dems...a whole society of whiners and brats who can't see past their own self-importance.

Hey Folks, since Ms. Pelosi is now on vacation, why not send her eMail, snail Mail, faxes, and give her a call. I bet she really needs some reading material to help her understand the anger of the American People over her antics and ego-power trip!

Nancy Pelosi:
California 8th Congressional District

eMail Address: http://speaker.house.gov/contact/
Note: takes you to a web page where one fills in an eMail text box.

A direct eMail
address: AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov
Perhaps the better one to use.

For those in the 8th
district of California: http://www.house.gov/pelosi/contact/contact.html
Note takes you to a web page where one fills in an eMail text box.

Google: nancy pelosi california office address
There is a lot of info on Google on her, etc.

Remember, even thought you are not in her congresional district, she is a US House of Representatives member and you are a US citizen. You have every damned right to eMail, snail Mail, fax, and call her to express your feelings because even though you are not a constituent of hers she does indeed represent you indirectly as well. What she does or fails to do for the best interests of the American people does also directly affect you and your family as well! Make sure you point that out to her in any correspondence.

Where were all you morons supporting the Republibums when they were playing with house pages, running up the debt, and playing princes' of Washington D.C..
Bring back the Hammer!!!!
You Republibums make me laugh !!!!

Your all missing the point. There is less than 40 years worth of oil left in the ground,world wide,at our present rate of consumption. Not that much if we won't drill for it. Windpower will not produce,assemble,and maintain wind turbines. Solar energy will not produce,assemble,and maintain solar panels. Hydrogen power will not produce hydrogen with our present technology. It takes power from fossil fuels. Deep cycle batteries cannot be produced in their present form without fossil fuels. If we are going to have any chance of overcoming these problems, we need the oil to give us the time. Otherwise,we won't want to know what's coming down the pike for our grandkids to deal with.

The Repubs may not be able to anything now, BUT, what about the next session? What do the House rules allow for? Can Reps refuse to even appear at the next session?
Can they storm the podium in protest& revolution. What legal steps would be taken against them in that case?
Yes,I'm talking about physically stopping the session with MUSCLE.Physically stopping Pelosi from running the show, BY FORCE!!
Will the army be called out, the police? Arent these Reps indemnified against prosecution in some categories? How about barring the doors of the chamber. Remember Jefferson, said that force may be undertaken to perpetuate democracy, occasionally at times in paraphrased words. Maybe the only ones who have any culyones are the Reps who see this crap happen daily, the rest of America is asleep with sex, drugs & rock & roll,tv & sports. Maybe its time for a new American Revolution, anarchy is it?, well maybe its time.

This is monumental. The Demorats just sealed their collective fate in the next election. They're finished. Pressure should be brough Nancy Pelosi to resign. I truly believe this woman has lost touch with reality.

@R.J. Connors - Look at who's pontificating, you pretentious bloat. What about this dialog don't you understand...that at least 75% of the American population wants to DRILL NOW, or that your party is following in the footsteps of fascism by not allowing a vote because they know they'll lose and Obama will have to answer for how be voted on the issue? Simple, pure facts, Mr. Connors. You liberals seem to take pride at wallowing in the temporary limelight of minutia while the real world sits and watches you play in your 'golden shower'. Yes, golden shower. So, Mr. Connors, speak to the issue with facts and you might be taken seriously someday. Until then, continue to bait people with your "intelligent discourse".

It may be time to gather the proverbial torches and pitchforks and take our country back. The will of the American people is being usurped and no one in government, neither Democrat or Republican, is listening anymore. We are on a fast road to serfdom. Revolution, brothers and sisters.

I agree completely with what the Republicans did. Pelosi is not doing this for the American people. Appears like she is doing it for a small, but powerful interest group. Who could it be? I hope we'll see more from the Republicans during their vacation! That would be interesting!

I can hear the cries of all democrats tonight. We were so close to having all the power.
It's time for the ANGRY WHITE CONSERVATIVE VOTER TO STAND UP AGAIN. Somebody call NEWT! We all need to send him e mails and get him on the ticket with McCain!
Pelosi, Reid and Obama will take this country straight to socialism AND all of us who actually listened in school and worked hard will be raped of what we have worked so hard for. Making over 250 a year is not a crime but it soon will be.
Stand up to this and get to the polls and vote. The polls are turning our way and the skinny man can no longer fill his suit.
Follow me to FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After obamas newest flip flop today, one wonders how his evironmental leftist are showing him the love now. He has again shown he has no morals and no allegiance to anything or anyone, including his own cultist base. With his flip flop today on drilling offshore he has thrown his base, the idiot pelosi and the follower Reed under his proverbial bus. Who will be left standing for him come November other than the cult followers and black racist like him, how else could one describe them since he has n0 substance or principle on issues. Maybe its time to show pride and intelligence of one's self instead of allegiance to race and or party.

Pelosi knows the vote will be to allow drilling, just the vote "yes" will drop gas prices immediatly. Letting the american people suffer for their ideals is what the dems are all about. I hope rush picks up on this soon and make pelosi look dumber than she already does.

The Dems really have introduced totalitarianism. The disdain of the Dems for the people is dangerous to our democracy. They have stolen our votes by doing things like holding up excellent judicial nominees in the Judiciary Committee. The arrogance of Biden and Leahy knows no bounds. We voted for Bush because of the fine judges he nominated. Now the Dems on the judiciary committee have stolen the election. What a fraud the Democratic party is. All they want is power.

Republicans come back. I will fly out in a heartbeat and sit on the steps out front with a sign if necessary. You guys may have started a revolution against the Democrat Politburo. I applaud the Republicans that had the balls to hang in there. Come on back and let me know. I will be out front with a sign supporting you guys.

Tyranny, oppression and fascism is not coming in the form of a swastika, but in the form of a grandmother, a grandmother who is the grand poobah of the demonrat party. Allright everyone drilling is not the answer but retrofitting our gasoline cars with windmills and solar panels with money which we don't have is the answer.

Neither side has really done anything in many years, but this is a start! Liberals need to learn that you can't just shut the spicket off instantly! It takes time and instead of a lame duck attitude we need to attack this problem instantly not after we vacation. Remember Democrats you may not want us to drill, but other countries will! So instead of trying to hold all the chips. Get into the game before there isn't any chips or people at the table! Soon other countries will drill it all for us. Cough, CHINA!
Btw McCain, that was a low blow.

I am from the blue state of Delaware. I have had it with the not in my back yard left.Dems, Let vote take place and start acting like you work you us, the ones vote you in and OUT of office. If we had oil here in Delaware, you could put a rig in my back yard and my front too.

I was there. This was incredible. Liberal or conservative, ya'll should be proud folks were here to support this. No one should be denied the right to vote, much less the congressmen themselves! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Two years ago these blowhards lied to the American Sheeple about a "common sense plan to control gas prices" they had up their sleeve once they got elected. Gas prices have gone up over two dollars a gallon since then. Where is the concern for all their poor, overburdened voters now?? I had to cancel my vacation this year just because of the price of gas. And now congress gets five weeks off? Anyone who votes to keep these people in office are the bigger fools and deserve just what they are getting and will get more next year. Dems want perpetual victims, and we keep letting them do it to us time after time. It's like this country has battered-wife syndrome in reverse. Nancy is screwing with you and yet you keep coming back. Idiots!

I can't read all 1700 some posts but the reason CSPAN stopped transmitting was because they have zero control over when the cameras are on or off. Pelosi in her position has a button that can turn them off anytime she wants.

What do you do when the slogan, "We can't drill our way out of this situation" doesn?t work, turn off the lights and go home. Keep voting democrat, and we will become France w/ $5 / gal gas, and Muslims demanding Sharia Law be the Law of the Land. The difference between Obama and the other presidents on our currency, they are Americans, and he is not.

Could some be so kind as to inform us of just when it was that Congress gained more power than even the President of the United States?
I'm wondering how the Dems, especially pelosi is going to blame this on the Republicans/Conservatives. I can't wait to see this dog and pony show.
Nancy STAY HOME and get another day job. This one is not quite working for you. Feeding the homeless at a food shelter would be my first selection.
Thanks for "listening" all.

It's long overdue that our Republicans stand up for America. The Democrats haf been leading us toward the black-hole of socialism and if left unchecked, we may all wake-up one day to discover our Constitution is gone. How will you all feel when someone comes to re-locate you and re-distribute your property? It won't happen to the "Rich"..... It will happen to the Middle Class.

It all goes back to early 2006 when Nancy Pelosi said in an interview, "my main job is to see that Bush doesn't get any legislation passed". The whole purpose so that Republicans couldn't claim any victorys. It worked and the Democrats took over the senate and house in that election. Its all about power!

This is yet another example of why Nancy Pelosi is the worst House Speaker EVER. She has made history by being the first woman (impressive...bust that glass ceiling girl!) However, this Congress has accomplished nothing as evident by thier 9% approval rating (no wonder they are not talking about Pres. Bush's 29 approval rating...hummm..) I think I want my money back. Why are these people elected so they can do nothing except argue with other people they don't agree with and go home without doing anything for the America people. I say we need to vote them out. While we are at it...we should vote out all the Rupublicans that went along with all the massive spending that has been going on in Washington. On that I will bash my own Rep. party and the President. We need fiscal balance and a government that knows it is there to serve the people...not the other way around. We need energy now! I am unemployed driving around in $4.00 a gal gas....not cool. I have to use the credit card once in a while just for gas. Anyone going to help me now? Nope. Dems say we need to invest in alternative fuel...how is that going to help my car now? WE NEED TO DRILL...NOTHING LIVING WHERE WE WANT TO DRILL IN ALASKA....GOD IS BEGGING US TO DRILL THERE. Let's do it so we can give Saudi Arabia the finger and maintain our Country's security and economic stability. Nough said!

It's long overdue that our Republicans stand up for America. The Democrats haf been leading us toward the black-hole of socialism and if left unchecked, we may all wake-up one day to discover our Constitution is gone. How will you all feel when someone comes to re-locate you and re-distribute your property? It won't happen to the "Rich"..... It will happen to the Middle Class.

Yup didn?t Nancy (my new book is at #1487 on amazon)Pelosi say when she took office as the queen bee that she was going to restore integrity and honor back to the house when she flew in on her broomstick?
As for C-span not covering it and turning off the cameras just more proof it?s the typical corrupt liberal media outlet. Whenever I turn it on it Barack Husain Osama and it always at least 2-1 if not 3-1 democrat "callers" on the phone in segment.
As was said in other post most of the idiot dems who have shown utter contempt for the American people will be reelected, like Obama and the racist mayor of N.O. naygin
Also oits about time the republicans showed some cajones! Rememeber we dont want 4 more yeasr of the bush "moderate' republican WE WANT ANOTHER RONALD WILSON REAGAN!!!!!!!!!!

They made Pelosi look like arrogant socialist dope that she is. Good for them. The Dems are self destructing again. Obama will not win. Look out for an extremely angry left after his loss. Riots, violence ect...

No amount of offshore drilling we can do will have an appreciable effect on our oil prices or availability. It might help for a few months.. maybe less than a year, but that's it. These short term fixes NEED to be ignored in order to develop new strategies, something that should have been done a while ago... perhaps suring Cheney's closed door sessions, perhaps during the Clinton terms, perhaps during Reagan/Bush.... It's time to address our long term issues and get off oil.. not continue to live on our credit cards, find short term strategies to decrease prices, ignoring the real, hard work that needs to be done. Hard work? Isn't that a "conservative" talking point? I guess if we'd had conservation and environmentalisim in the good old 50's, the Repubs would follow it better.

As the only Democrat, Dennis Kuchinich stayed there in the darkened room to see if fairies and aliens occupied it when no one was there. That is his only job in the House but this is the only time he was ever brave enough to do it. Poor sap still doesn't realize that when people are there the other things will not show themselves. Can't we get someone like Schmuckie Schumer to do that job instead?

Grandstanding? I don't think the GOP is grandstanding. I think they are trying to get something done. There should be a vote. Why even have representatives, if one person is going to say "I'm trying to save the world", and that is that? No, America is not set up that way. We fought for our freedom, and continue to do so today. The people have a right to be heard. ALL the American people. Not just Pelosi and Obama. Obama is said to be the one to 'unite the country'. He, along with the his party are driving us further apart. Unite us all? Sure, if we forget to think for ourselves and follow them blindly. Yeah, not gonna happen. BUSH.....call them back in, cast the votes. Drill or not, let the voices be heard.

The Department of Interior, Minerals Man agent Service oversees the Oil Companies who search for oil and gas in the United States. The Minerals Revenue Management collects royalties from the Oil Companies monthly when it is produced from the platforms into the pipelines at an average rate of 12%. This is before the refineries that then turn it into gasoline and other products.
Using sophisticated, computerized accounting systems, the MRM processes approximately $900 million (mostly via electronic funds transfers) each month. Bonuses, rents and royalties from nearly 67,000 leases can amount to several billion dollars each year -- an amount that peaked to more than $12 billion in 2006, but averages from $6 to $7 billion in recent years. Totals fluctuate with market prices, amount of production, and the number of lease sales.
You can find out more here http://www.mrm.mms.gov/Intro/WhoWeAre.htm
The Feds distribute these funds to the states and you can find out more here http://www.mrm.mms.gov/MRMWebStats/Home.aspx
The Congress needs to review their own programs because right now an oil company has 5 years to explore and develop an offshore lease or they lose it and it goes back to open bid.

This is great! Atleast some of the politicans care about something. These are the political pratices out great nation was founded on. In 1776 when we became a nation, our congress held great protests and rallies like this one held by the GOP yesterday. It was the minority then and the minority now who will rise up and become the majority to change this country.

I did not watch the news yesterday but this morning, not even a mention on CBS and just a passing word on NBC. Isn't this top news material or is the MSM covering up so Democrats get elected and take control of government???

The Democrats and their propaganda wing (aka the MSM) will criticize this as a ?stunt? without chastising the Dems for their do-nothing behavior. Every proposal put before the Democrat-controlled Senate and House, that will help to put an end to our dependence on the OPEC *******s by drilling our own resources, has been met with refusal.
I hope hundreds of Americans show up in the chamber to witness the Republicans dedication to their constituents and the lack of integrity on the part of the Democratic party.

With an approval rating of 9% the Dam-o-crats have no legitimacy. Were this a European country ( which form of socialsim they so deeply admire) they'd be forced to resign en masse starting with Nancy Pelosi and including the House, Senate, most of the Judiciary and the entire Executive branch due to No Confidence.
The whole group of weasels and thieves need to be removed and replaced with honest leadership.
Of course that would require a scrap of integrity-- something that most politicians completely lack.

Pelosi and the Democrats are abject morons. In the dark is what you and I will live in under their leadership. When the riots begin because of energy rationing because the Democraps keep living in their idealistic myopic world who will they blame then? Of course it'll be someone else. They don't deserve even one seat in the House and the Senate.

Just another stunt pulled by the whining rethugnicans. Why do you think the approval ratings of congress are so low?
It's because of the OBSTRUCTIONIST repugs who refuse to allow anything to move forward with their constant filibustering and posturing.
Drilling offshore will do NOTHING for ameica's gas prices, even if drilling could start tommorow (which it cannot) not one drop of oil could come into the market for YEARS.
Stop the speculators and the corrupt oil CARTELS from manipulating the energy markets and prices would drop like a rock.
republicans are just plain old IGNORANT buffons!

I?m taking food off the table to pay for gas so I can survive and support my family. Mean while America?s Na, Na; Nancy Pelosi turns her back on America to either peddle her book which is #1,830 something on Amazon or she out saving the world. My kids are hungry Nancy so stop by and buy us a dinner at least. Friends don?t let friends vote democrat; I am heeding that advice this fall!

It's time to get off oil????? I suppose LNG wants all of our cars to run on that magic engine that gets 5000 miles on a stick of butter. Note: the big car companies have hidden this from us for over fifty years since it was first reverse engineered from the Roswell spaceship.
Cut the crap already. I'm ashamed to admit that when I was young and stupid I voted for Jimmy Carter and majored in environmental studies. It's been over thirty years and we still haven't found a decent substitute for oil, but it's not conspiracy, it's just the natural evolution of scientific discovery. BHO's "new" campaign ad reads like Jimmy Carter's failed promises of the 70's that nearly destroyed the economy. Congress can't legislate increase fuel standards anymore than it can demand that the drug companies find a cure for cancer. And what else does BHO want to do to help solve the oil crisis? Uh--let's raise taxes. Yeah, that's it. Let's have windfall profits tax and that will create more oil. The democratic solution to everything is raise taxes. If democrats were on the Titanic, their response to finding out it was sinking would be to tax the ticket prices.
And don't get me started on the whack job environmentalists!!! They oppose EVERYTHING, including alternative energy sources, but that's for another debate.
For the foreseeable future, we need oil. Hopefully, someday, the magic bullet for clean unlimited energy will be found, but until then, unless you've lived through the Jimmy Carter years, keep your halfbaked opinions to yourself.

The ridiculous among the Republicans pull cheap tactics and make cheap shots like spoiled, bratty children. Immaturity is key.
Just like this. It was understood it was a recess. Why didn't the GOP do this last session? Conveniently, cheapness dictates this would not be acknowledged so that this stunt isn't discredited.
The ridiculous among the Democrats pull stunts by "ho and hum", lip-service followed by smiling poopery. I don't know a better word for it, sorry. Cynicism in the guise of maturity is key.
They would high-tail it back to town if they wanted to prove they were different. The Republicans have always loved their recesses, too. Why disengage the opposition? The public is watching. They could say, what a great idea, let's reconvene Congress and not only debate this legislation, but drag the Republicans through tons more legislation than they expected.
But, who isn't silly and drunk with the privileges of power?
Partisan crazies everywhere.

Shame shame shame on Pelosi and Co. I knew she was far left, but what she has done to her party (shockingly without their dissent) and this latest stunt are too much. Pelosi clearly does not care about democrary and all that has made this country the great core of freedom and liberty in this world. Instead, she wants to implement her own brand of socialism. When you shut off lights and mikes when the opposition is speaking, nobody can disagree that this shows elements of communist regimes of days past. Although Stalin is surely proud (laughing in his grave) of his comrade Pelosi, I have faith in democracy and in America and trust her days are numbered. She is obviously not the appropriate leader for House Democrats. She is a bad and dangerous seed representing a self-righteous socialist extreme that has no place in government leadership. And once one scratches below even the first layer of her PC/diplomatic surface, any American knows in his/her heart of hearts that she is NOT what this country needs. I only hope the Democrats soon implement what the party elders have probably been discussing behind closed doors for a while now: how to get rid of Pelosi as Speaker. Fingers crossed...

Gotta love Democrate free speech!!!! They're really doing the people's business. A simple vote is all thats needed.
Who does Pelosi think she is? Castro, Putin, Chavez are a few that come to mind. Where's the outcry from the press? Where's the first Amendment lawyers? This is the peoples house not Pelosi's own playground.
Bush, call them back and force a vote!!!!

The GOP is right - the Democrats oppose all meaningful energy reforms, and instead keep obstructing energy exploration. So not only are the Dems raising your taxes on your income, they are also raising your taxes at the pump!

The fact is, liberals are destroying our country, and they are mostly on the coasts. They are eleitists. Here in the heartland, we work hard and do not like socialism. Dems and Libs do. They want to surrender to terror, make your children gay, outlaw God... and now a presumptious nominee wants to be elected. They will cheat, just so this PC Candidate can get in and communize everything. They have no facts and logic, just media bias and hate for Bush. Bush should order them back or not even let them back, and just go on helping the people of the USA like hes always. We are at war, it is dangerous to be so arragant the way the Dems are, enemy sees weakness, but Dems are the real enemy, to freedom and the free market and the great traditions of liberty and western civilizations. I will never surrender to barbarians, liberal or muslim, and do not want Gays to marry. Time for anotehr revolution before they take everything from us.

Typical GOP ... all ******** and theartris, no substance.
They have no shame, and there is no end to the shennanigans they will pull to try to bamboozle the American public into supporting their agenda of big business profits and corporate greed .